James City Recreational Centers Redistribute Costs

High Membership Taxes Resources

JAMES CITY (COUNTY) — A tight budget and increasing demand could mean higher fees for some users of county recreational facilities and a change in the way the county administers new sports programs.

To offset higher costs and keep programs in place, the county will pass along more of its costs to users, according to changes proposed by the parks and recreation department. The recreation department also plans to change the way it pays outside instructors.

``But I don't think the public will find a dramatic increase in pricing,'' said Ned Cheely, director of parks and recreation.

``In times of recession, more demand is put on local recreation because people are not traveling as much and doing things they normally do,'' he said.

The number of users at the recreation center increased from 40,998 in fiscal year 1989 to 75,233 in fiscal year 1990, a 45 percent jump.

The recreation center, opened in 1987, has an indoor pool, racquetball courts, exercise machines and meeting rooms. The center also offers memberships for use of the pool and exercise equipment. Cheely said he did not anticipate any change in membership fees.

More than 28,319 people participated in the department's other programs in fiscal year 1990, a 40 percent jump from the previous year, when almost 20,000 enrolled. The current budget is $795,381. Sports leagues pay for the cost of recreation department staff and expenses incurred in running the leagues. Fees are also charged for classes offered by the recreation department and taught by outside instructors.

Because of increased programming in some areas, particularly sports, some teams will have to pay higher fees to help pay for part-time staff needed to run the programs and other expenses. For example, the cost of lights and other services, such as lining fields, will be charged directly to sports leagues and could add to fees, Cheely said. Soccer teams have already seen some increases due to rising utility costs, said Cheely.

In an effort to help groups keep down costs, the recreation department is considering co-sponsoring programs and having participants run some programs, rather than by center staff. The arrangement would allow the center to expand its programs without hiring additional staff.

``They don't have the dollars and expertise to run everything and since some programs are well-established, they wouldn't have to hire more people to run the programs,'' said Harold Baker, who runs the Williamsburg Aquatic Club.

The 12-year-old club offers programs to almost 200 swimmers on a year-round basis.

The way the county runs instructional classes will also change. The county will begin paying instructors on an hourly basis. Currently, instructors receive 70 percent of each registration fee. While most instructors will be paid about the same, the county will keep extra revenues generated by increased enrollment, said Cheely.

The county offers a wide variety of classes, including art, photography, fitness and swimming.

Ed Tiller, who has taught karate for the recreation department for five years, said that he had discussed the change with recreation employees and found it satisfactory.

``As long as it's an equitable system, I have no problem with it,'' said Tiller. Tiller's karate classes are offered three nights a week and attract about 50 students.

Oil painting instructor Violet Parker said that the change would be acceptable ``if at the end, I'm paid about the same.'' Parker has taught at the recreation department for eight years.

Cheely said the department plans to advertise instructional classes more heavily, in an attempt to fill classes and increase enrollment to maximum levels. Only 60 percent of the programs fill to the maximum, said Cheely, and the county's goal is to increase that to at least 75 percent. Many classes are canceled because they fail to attract enough students to pay the department's costs.

Cheely said he has been working closely with school officials to plan new schools with an eye toward after-school community use. ``With the shrinking dollar, it makes sense to develop facilities that can be used by more people,'' he said. For example, he said, the new middle school in Toano will include some storage and office space that the recreation department can use. Some schools are already used to hold classes.

The county will also retain its commitment to after school and summer playground programs for at-risk children and teen-agers, said Cheely. The after-school recreation program attracts approximately 50 students at three sites in the county. Many are from low income families who would return to empty homes after school, said Cheely, and the programs provide a safe alternative. Approximately 200 children and teens participate in the summer playground program.